Uncertainty lingers with transfer of ownership

Spring training

As the Padres approach spring training, two major issues are in limbo.

• The ownership transfer from John Moores to the group headed by CEO Jeff Moorad is still awaiting approval from other major league owners.

• And the Padres have yet to announce their new television package.

Given that, it’s hard to say the Padres have made major strides as a franchise.

However, most other signs are good after a very active offseason that began with Josh Byrnes becoming the club’s general manager after Jed Hoyer was allowed to resign and accept the same position with the Chicago Cubs.

Not only did Moorad give Byrnes “$6 to $7 million” more than budgeted for the 2012 edition of the Padres, the future got brighter as several groups ranked the Padres’ minor league system at the top or near the top in baseball.

“I think we have positioned this club for future success,” Moorad said recently. “And we’ve given ourselves a chance to win this year. We know it’s not going to happen overnight, but I think this organization has made strides across the board.”

Byrnes is optimistic about this season.

“I’m not conceding anything going into camp,” said Byrnes. “You never know. This club surprised everyone in 2010. Arizona surprised everyone last season. Why not us again?”

“It’s why you play the games,” says Padres manager Bud Black.

Byrnes said he expects improvement from at least seven positions this season and believes the pitching can again be a strength despite the loss of starters Mat Latos and Aaron Harang and end-of-game relievers Mike Adams and Heath Bell.

“Edinson Volquez is going to be a key,” Byrnes said of the right-handed starter who was one of four players coming from Cincinnati in the trade for Latos. “It is hard to duplicate Adams and Bell, but we believe we are going to be sound in the bullpen.”

Said Moorad: “There is no doubt that I am happy with the strides we’ve made.

“I’m very happy with the improvements we’ve made in the minor leagues. It was the focus of the entire organization, and that effort has been a success. And I like the moves Josh made in the offseason.

“I think the additions of (left fielder) Carlos Quentin and (first baseman) Yonder Alonso are going to have immediate impact. I think we’ve improved the immediate team without adversely impacting our future, which is a critical consideration.”

Clearly, Byrnes received Moorad’s approval before making the Latos deal and the trade that brought Quentin from the White Sox. Quentin added money to the payroll that hadn’t been budgeted. The same goes for the late signing of free agent pitcher Micah Owings.

“Josh made great arguments,” joked Moorad in a discussion that worked from the future back to the present.

The year before Moorad reached the layaway purchase agreement with Moores, the Padres minor league system was ranked among the four worst. Today, most rankings have the Padres in the top three and ESPN.com’s Keith Law ranks the Padres as the best overall minor league system in baseball — although no individual player cracks the top 25.

Six Padres prospects — Alonso, right-handed pitcher Casey Kelly, outfielder Rymer Liriano, catcher Yasmani Grandal, third baseman Jedd Gyorko and second baseman Cory Spangenberg — are rated among the top 100 prospects in the game while catcher Austin Hedges and pitcher Joe Wieland are just outside the top 100.

Moorad, however, said his plan to relocate the Padres’ Triple-A franchise in the North County has failed.

“For all practical purposes, it is over in the North County,” he said. “If there was a revival, it would turn our heads in a minute. Unofficially, the club is up for sale.”

The Triple-A Padres will probably be calling Boise, Idaho, Vancouver, B.C., or El Paso, Texas, home rather than Escondido.

And while Boise and Vancouver present travel problems, the Padres would like to move their Triple-A franchise, currently housed in Tucson, out of the Southwest for a variety of reasons that includes the distorted success enjoyed by hitters.

“The Pacific Northwest looks more desirable than El Paso with Oklahoma City being another possibility if the Astros relocated their Triple-A franchise,” said a Padres source.

Moorad also said fans hoping to see changes made to the dimensions at Petco Park should find another cause to champion, although some in the organization would favor a shortening of the fences in right field.

“I’ve been consistent,” said Moorad. “Petco Park as it is constructed presents opportunities that few teams have to contour a team to the ballpark.